Athena didn't have a mother. Her father, Zeus, gave birth to her. When Zeus' wife, Metis, got pregnant, Zeus soon learned that any son born to Metis would overthrow him so Zeus swallowed Metis while she was pregnant with Athena. One day he got a terrible headache and asked for the help of Hephaestus, the craftsman god. Hephaestus then cut a slit in in Zeus' forehead and Athena appeared, fully-grown and clothed with armor.
After being born, Athena became the favorite child of Zeus. She was the only one of his children that he ever entrusted with his magic shield and the secret of where his lightning bolts were stored. She remained his constant companion during battles, serving as his advisor.
Athena and Poseidon, the god of the seas, both wanted to be the god of Athens. Because of this, the Athenians made a test. It said whoever could give a more useful gift to the Athenians would become the god/goddess. Athena gave the gift of the first olive tree, which was more useful than Poseidon's gift of water, so she became the goddess of Athens.
Athena is one of the three goddesses who were in the Judgment of Paris, a competition thought of by Zeus to decide who would get the golden apple. It was made by Eris, the goddess of discord, as a gift to the fairest of them all. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and Hera, the goddess of marriage were her competitors. Hermes, the messenger god, led the three goddesses to Paris of Troy to decide the winner. Aphrodite won with her gift of Helena, Zeus’ daughter, to be his wife.
Erichthonius was the only son of Athena and his dad was Hephaestus, the god of fire. In the time when his wife, Aphrodite, had abandoned him, he was driven to desperation. One day when Athena paid Hephaestus a visit, he tried to pursue her. She said no because she wanted to remain a virgin so he violated her. Athena tried to get away but a seed fell and was fertilized. From this her son, a half-serpent creature, was born.
Athena tried to prevent war all her life but when it was started, she always helped to finish it. One of the wars she tried to help prevent was the Trojan War. To do this, she went out onto the battle field and made both sides swear oaths to keep peace. Unfortunately, a Trojan soldier violated the oath and shot an arrow. This started the Trojan War. Because of this, Athena helped the other side, the Greeks, win the war.
Athena helped many heroes. She gave them advice, protection, and helped them win their battles. One of these heroes was Odysseus, the ruler of Ithaca. She helped him get home after the Trojan War. This is a journey home that took ten years. To help him with the journey, she took the shape of different men, women and children.
Athena was the inventor of many things including the flute. She made the flute from the bones of deer. It was made to imitate the sound of the wailing of the Gorgons when Medusa was killed. But when Athena saw her reflection while playing, she was disgusted with her appearance. She hated how her cheeks puffed out while playing so she threw it away. She also put a curse on the first person to pick it up.
Athena can get very jealous. When Medusa, a beautiful mortal, said that she was prettier than the goddess, Athena turned the girl into a gorgon, a woman with snakes for hair, so that one look at her would turn anyone to stone. Athena also turned Arachne, another mortal with great weaving skills, into a spider because she dared say that she was a better weaver than her. Athena did feel a little sorry forher so she chose a spider, that way the girl can still spin beautiful webs.
Megalyia was Athena’s only daughter and she has no father. When Athena was caught in a fight with her sister, Aphrodite, their father, Zeus, realized Athena was jealous of all her siblings’ children. Since she didn’t want to lose her virginity, Zeus placed his hands on her, impregnating her. After giving birth to Megalyia, Athena became more devoted as a mother rather than a goddess because she was trying to teach her daughter everything she could.
This is a picture of Athena, the goddess of war.
This is a picture of a golden apple. Athena competed with Hera and Aphrodite in the Judgement of Paris for this apple. Aphrodite eventually won the challenge and the golden apple.
This is a picture of a trumpet. This is one of the instruments that Athena invented. Another was the flute.
This is an olive tree. Athena's gift to the Athenians of the first olive tree granted her the honor of becoming the goddess of Athens.
Colors and Music: The colors I used were yellow, orange and some green. I chose these colors because while researching I found that these colors represent Athena. The color yellow is a symbol of wisdom. Athena uses wisdom while helping heroes on their quests. The color orange is the color of adventure and social communication. As a goddess, Athena goes on many adventures and has a lot of responsibilities, some of them causing the adventures. Also the color green symbolizes self respect and well being. Athena fights for the well being of others a lot throughout her life. The music I used has some cheerful and peaceful parts to it and sort of a twist. It starts off with a cheerful and peaceful vibe. I chose this because Athena tries to prevent war and keep peace between people as much as she can. The twist occurs because sometimes keeping the peace doesn't work and war begins. This part shows the war but eventually dies out as the wars always do. Then the peaceful parts return to finish off the song.
Facts about Athena:Ashley's Athena Dramatic Writing
Colors and Music:
The colors I used were yellow, orange and some green. I chose these colors because while researching I found that these colors represent Athena. The color yellow is a symbol of wisdom. Athena uses wisdom while helping heroes on their quests. The color orange is the color of adventure and social communication. As a goddess, Athena goes on many adventures and has a lot of responsibilities, some of them causing the adventures. Also the color green symbolizes self respect and well being. Athena fights for the well being of others a lot throughout her life.
The music I used has some cheerful and peaceful parts to it and sort of a twist. It starts off with a cheerful and peaceful vibe. I chose this because Athena tries to prevent war and keep peace between people as much as she can. The twist occurs because sometimes keeping the peace doesn't work and war begins. This part shows the war but eventually dies out as the wars always do. Then the peaceful parts return to finish off the song.
Work Cited:
http://www.mythweb.com/gods/athena.html
http://olympus.crazychicnet.org/bios/athena_bio3.htm
http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Ar-Be/Athena.html#b
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Athena.html
http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/greek_goddess_athena.htm
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/JudgementParis.html
http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/greek_goddess_athena.htm
http://www.greek-gods.info/greek-gods/athena/myths/athena-lycabettus-hill/